Bus rapid transit identity meets universal design

As bus rapid transit (BRT) systems continue to become more popular and as capital expenditure for such projects continues to grow, careful consideration of BRT identity design becomes ever more necessary. Properly considered identity systems can ensure accessibility to and usability of physical features and can also ensure that BRT systems are accessible and practical to use. Based on the seven principles of universal design, this article proposes a basic means to evaluate existing and planned BRT identity systems. The article concludes with recommendations for evaluators and guidelines for designers of BRT identity systems that will help to ensure the practical usability of BRT identity systems by a broad audience of diverse users, regardless of physical, cognitive or situational ability.     

AMISH ABUNDANCE: HOW THE PLAIN PEOPLE PROSPER

Abundance is defined as having enough of whatever one craves and/or needs in life. Thus, one can speak of physical abundance as being distinct from spiritual or social abundance. Abundance is an inherently personal, experiential concept, not amenable to objective, economic measurement such as income. The Amish people of Canada and USA provide an excellent case study in avoiding poverty traps and achieving a sustainable, abundant and healthy life, on very low incomes. This study of Amish culture has important social lessons and policy implications, both on the micro and the macro level. The study also reveals how the social and material security which the Amish enjoy, is however, achieved at the cost of severely circumscribed personal freedoms of thought and action.     

Pete Rozelle: A historical review of how the NFL commissioner used public relations

Few public relations practitioners rise to the level of head of an organization; therefore, this study on former National Football League Commissioner Pete Rozelle presents a unique opportunity to examine how an organizational leader with PR work experience managed a business operation. Drawing upon unique historical records, this study demonstrated how Rozelle used his public relations background to help make the NFL America's number one sport (in terms of revenue and in fan polling).     

Smithian Domestic Product and the U.S. economy

This study examines Adam Smith's concept of national product (referred to as Smithian Domestic Product, or SDP) which he articulated in The Wealth of Nations. In contrast to Gross Domestic Product (which measures the production of things that have value), Smith's measure is more plutological. It measures the production of things critical for the accumulation of wealth. Given the global interest in economic growth and improvements in living standards, SDP is potentially useful as a complement to the GDP measure. As a preliminary effort to assess that potential, SDP and GDP estimates for the U.S. economy were compared for the period from 1949 to 2002. For two major macroeconomic events in the past decade (the economic boom of the 1990s and the recent recession), SDP appears to perform better than the GDP measure.